While calligraphy nibs enable beautiful lettering creations, they can also prove to be finicky creatures! We’ve all been there: you open up a new packet of nibs, insert one that you’ve been excited about using in your pen, and … ink won’t flow. Or, maybe the nib writes, but not without scratching into the paper with a vengeance. Solutions for these two problems — plus a few others — can be found in the six nib usage tips below!Continue reading…

There is no “must have” list of intermediate calligraphy supplies, and I want to get that out of the way from the get-go! As long as you have basic calligraphy supplies, you’re all set to create calligraphy regardless of your skill level. For that reason, this intermediate calligraphy supply list offers suggestions for tools that should be fun to toy with. None of these supplies are things you absolutely must own, but they’re all nice to have!Continue reading…

Over the past few years, I have taught several beginners’ modern calligraphy workshops and answered countless calligraphy questions via email. Those experiences have taught me that there is a need for a blog post like this one: a post that shows you where to start learning from scratch! In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to learn modern calligraphy in a few simple steps.Continue reading…

I want to preface this post by saying that the Brause Rose nib is probably not the most beginner-friendly calligraphy tool in the world. It’s certainly the “fairest of them all” with its embossed rose and beautiful contours, but its flex can prove difficult if you’re new to calligraphy! If you’ve been practicing for a few months and you feel up for a challenge, however, I encourage you to give the Brause Rose a go. This post includes a few tips for using it, as well as a realistic idea of what to expect!Continue reading…

It’s a little-known fact that new calligraphy nibs come with the manufacturer’s oils still on them. The use of oil is necessary to ensure that nibs store well as they are waiting to be sold. That’s good news for us writers: no one wants to receive an old, brittle nib! At the same time, though, new calligraphy nibs can be difficult to use because of the oil that coats them. In this blog post, we’ll explore four gentle ways to remove oil from nibs and prepare them for use!Continue reading…

Modern calligraphy is a fun and useful hobby; there are few people out there who won’t appreciate a beautifully addressed envelope or a neatly written note! Many people would like to learn how to create swoon-worthy lettering, but the vast number of calligraphy supplies available may make the pastime intimidating for a calligraphy beginner. So, if you’re a beginner or if you know a beginner, this post is for you! In it, you’ll learn about supplies you can buy to make for a smooth and enjoyable introduction to this wonderful art.Continue reading…

If you’ve been following the TPK blog for a while, you’ve probably seen me use the Brause EF66 nib umpteenth times. I’ve written about this gem of a nib a couple of times before in posts about nibs in general … but today I thought it should be the star of its own blog post. Its flex and impressive strength (well, for its size) render it deserving of such an honor!Continue reading…

Today, I want to dedicate a full post to what I consider to be the best beginner calligraphy nib: the Nikko G. It’s high time this nib gets the stardom it deserves! Why? Because using the Nikko G may mean the difference between getting too frustrated with calligraphy to continue practicing, and keepin’ on keepin’ on. I am so adamant about beginners using this calligraphy nib because I did not use it as a beginner, and I wish I could have. What I had access to, instead, was the Hunt Imperial No. 101 nib (which came in a cheap calligraphy kit), pictured below.Continue reading…

My last blog post, How to Practice Calligraphy, was inspired by a reader’s question. Similarly, today’s blog post will address a combination of questions and comments from three different readers regarding calligraphy troubleshooting. All of these questions relate to shakiness when writing or nib pressure, which are issues that happen all the time, but aren’t talked about a whole lot. I have expounded on what I know about ameliorating both problems in the post below, but if you have further input {or questions!}, feel free to comment.Continue reading…

I have written a lot of calligraphy-focused posts, but none have truly examined the humble nib save for a simple explanation of which calligraphy nibs are good to use for beginners. Today’s blog post will show you that while every nib has its quirks, they’re all lovable in their own way. You’ll also glean valuable tips on how to deal with issues specific to each nib. As a disclaimer, I’ve only covered the nibs that I generally use. If you use a nib that is not on this list, please feel free to contribute your evaluation of it in the comments!Continue reading…